Top 10: Movie cars

Recently, we’ve been looking at pretty sensible stuff. We’ve had first car recommendations, winter driving tips and the merits of new vs second hand cars. Now, it’s time for something a little bit more fun, our top ten favourite movie cars of all time. You might not agree with our favourite. If not, use the poll at the bottom of this blog to let us know which car you think should have taken the top spot.

Note: We’re only covering real cars this time, our top ten cartoon cars is another blog for another time.

10) The Nautilus Car

Appeared in: The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (2003)

Why it’s awesome: Not only is the Nautilus Car owned by Captain Nemo, it has Steampunk styling, six wheels and it’s garaged inside a submarine! All that brilliance does come with a downside, however. The Nautilus Car was custom made and is not even a tiny bit street legal. Still, its a magnificent beast.

Nearest real-world equivalent: Morgan Aero 8 (£70,000)

9) Ecto-1

Appeared in: Ghostbusters (1984)

Why it’s awesome: First off, Ecto-1 looks fantastic. There are massive fins on the back, torpedo lights and a roof rack packed full of ghost-hunting gadgets. Then, of course, there’s that trademark wailing siren. The cherry on the cake is the fact that the Cadillac Miller-Meteors on which Ecto-1 is based are very very rare, which means every new conversion breaks a car snob’s heart.

8) Bond’s underwater car

Appeared in: The Spy Who Loved Me (1977)

Why it’s awesome: It’s a car, but it’s also a submarine. Surely that’s all it needs? Sure, it looks a bit like the sort of thing you’d use to wedge a door open with, but it goes underwater AND has some sort of rear-mounted paintball gun. By far and away the best Bond car.

Nearest real-world equivalent: Lotus Espirit (£9,000)

7) Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

Appeared in: Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968)

Why it’s awesome: All the personality of a clunky old banger, but with functional wings?! Now this is what first cars should really be like. Also, any car driven by Dick Van Dyke is alright by us.

Nearest real world equivalent: Ford Model T (£15,000+)

6) The Batmobile

Appeared in: Batman (1989)

Why it’s awesome: Every incarnation of the Batmobile has been incredible, but none match the 1989 version for sheer style. The sexy 1930s look combined with a jet engine, machine guns, bomb and disc launchers, grappling hooks, oil slick dispensers, smoke bombs and heavy armour make for a gloriously over-the-top motor that anyone would love to take a spin in. Plus, anything that belonged to Batman is brilliant. No question.

Nearest real world equivalent: None. You can build your own or buy a custom-made one for around £350,000.

5) The General Lee

Appeared in: The Dukes of Hazzard (1979-1985)

Why it’s awesome: There’s just something special about a car which you can only get into via the windows. It makes no sense and it’s desperately impractical, but it’s just so appealing. The General Lee’s magical ability to survive any crash or jump is also quite impressive. However,it’s worth mentioning that they destroyed over 200 of them while filming Dukes of Hazard.

Nearest real-world equivalent: Dodge Charger (£10,000 – £30,000)

4) Herbie

Appeared in: The Love Bug (1968)

Why it’s awesome: Half car, half pet, Herbie is a charming little Volkswagen Beetle who’s fond of adventures and racing. Lovely stuff. Considering that Herbie is the only living car on the list that’s not bristling with weaponry or filled with murderous rage, it’s fair to say that of all our top ten movie cars, he’d make the best choice for a learner driver.

Nearest real world equivalent: Volkswagen Beetle (£500 – £10,000)

3) Christine

Appeared in: Christine (1983)

Why it’s awesome: Pretty much every other car on this list is a force for good. But not Christine, she’s 100% pure automotive evil. She can think for herself, repair herself and she has a taste for grisly murder. Obviously, all the murdering would spoil the fun of owning an intelligent car that’ll never cost a penny in repair bills, but isn’t she pretty!

Nearest real-world equivalent: Plymouth Fury (£50,000+)

2) The DeLorean

Appeared in: Back to the Future (1985)

Why it’s awesome: If you’re going to time travel, you might as well do it in style and nothings more stylish than gullwing doors. Admittedly, the DeLoreans snazzy doors mean that you can’t in any standard parking space. However, there’s a cunning solution to that: Just drive around the car park at 88mph, activate the flux capacitors and travel back in time to a period before bay parking was invented. Problem solved.

Nearest real-world equivalent: DeLorean DCM 12 (£15,000 – £20,000)

1) WINNER – KITT (Knight Industries Two Thousand) – WINNER

Appeared in: Knight Rider (1982 – 1986)

Why it’s awesome: KITT is an intelligent, indestructible car which is capable of holding a passable conversation in several languages, seeing in all the usual wavelengths (plus X-ray and infrared) and driving itself. On top of all that, KITT has turbo boosters, oil jets, grappling hooks, a silent mode, a ‘super pursuit’ mode, a flamethrower, a tear gas launcher, a stun gun, flare launchers, a communications jamming system and could smell things. Impressive? That’s only a fraction of KITT’s full capabilities, a list which contains over 40 superpowers! Oh, and it was driven by David Hasselhoff.